Description: hi. i'll have problems while writing my idea in english, but i hope, you'll understand it somehow.
whenever i open my kmenu, i think, the screen-height isn't used ideally. i think, it would be good to show some frequently used programs directly in the menu-root, but sorted by categories, not like the kde-style of "recent programs". since details are hard to describe, it would be the best to look at the screenshot. then you will understand what i mean.
but manually generating this structure in kmenuedit isn't optimal imo. it would be better, if kde generates that structure on dynamically on demand out of the normal menu structure. then it could be made more intutive through optical methods, e.g. making the categories bold, so you can directly see "ah, here in this place are my internet programs". it would have usability advantages and it would make it a little more different from the windows startmenu (that only as secondary argument). i don't know, whether this idea is really new, but for me it is, and so you can discuss about it.Last changelog:
a new gimped "screenshot" of the idea. so, more people can make a concrete plan of what i want. imo it looks good, its usable and it would become a unique kde sign. i dont think its overflowed, is it?
This is a great idea, good looking menu. Well-organized, and I like the idea of having the recent programs categorized. Makes it very easy to find the stuff you use a lot, in the context you use it.
i've replaced the screenshot. now you can see, how you could imagine the realization, if the concept would become kde-aided. i think it is structured better and it could be made even more better.
ok, but reading "Everything about..." is also too long. The category should maybe placed at beginning of that sentences like: "Internet applications". "Office applications".
The bold header is good.
but generally it would be nice, if Kmenu could be totally themeable while offering standard and common features.
at first i though, "not bad", but, my opinion is, that it is more difficult or unergonomic to find a special application in the list. the eyes have to make many comparisons.
the current kmenu is already very good organized, it is just a little bit too high. actually it provides nearly the similar functions like XP's Start-Menu, the only disadvantage is the height.
It can certainly be improved but i think it can save us a lot mouse clicks, movements or key-strokes as most used apps get to the "surface". How about two different colours which alternate for consecutive application groups (as used in some tables).
Such a menu could be also good for developing kde as a whole.
I feel that it is useful to have a large variety of applications for each task so each one complements each other while we're on a developing stage, but that it's better to integrate the several applications for the same task (join their capabilities together) so their number reduces and the user's mind doesn't get all confused.
Organized this way the most used apps would come up and it would be easier to know where should the others apps' features be integrated.
but dont like how it is presented. It still looks at first glance like a massively overgrown and cluttered menu, takes some studying to get the idea. Ideally a menu should be showing no more than about 8 items in a list, beyond that strains most minds (ha-ha but its true). Thats what makes the whole idea of a menu so difficult -- there is so much KDE goodness. You mentioned also the idea of building a logical ¨representation¨ of menu items. In other words a Model-Controller-View pattern... this is already the case I believe. :)
yes i know, it looks not as good as it could be. because of that, it would be good, if such a menu-style is aided by the k-menu in that way, that by applying optical tricks, it looks more clear and not so overgrown. btw, it maybe seems obergrown, but for me this is okay since i know the structure of my menu and i know the place of the application i'm going to start. for sure, there are many people, who wont use it, but i feel comfortable with this menu and i think, some other people would think this way.
to the logical representation: i know, there is this logical representation. my idea is, kde should use this representation to dynamically generate a menu in my style (iff that is set up in the control center this way). so i dont need to structure it manually like i did, which has some disadvantages, e.g. in the "open with"-dialog.
I get it.
All recently used items appear ABOVE their category menu. Rather than a big stack at the top.
Multimedia items recently used appear above Multimedia.
It would make it easier to find knowing it belonged to a specific menu group.
Good idea,
The Borg Queen
Ratings & Comments
10 Comments
This is a great idea, good looking menu. Well-organized, and I like the idea of having the recent programs categorized. Makes it very easy to find the stuff you use a lot, in the context you use it.
You do not need the "everything about" line.
i've replaced the screenshot. now you can see, how you could imagine the realization, if the concept would become kde-aided. i think it is structured better and it could be made even more better.
ok, but reading "Everything about..." is also too long. The category should maybe placed at beginning of that sentences like: "Internet applications". "Office applications". The bold header is good. but generally it would be nice, if Kmenu could be totally themeable while offering standard and common features.
at first i though, "not bad", but, my opinion is, that it is more difficult or unergonomic to find a special application in the list. the eyes have to make many comparisons. the current kmenu is already very good organized, it is just a little bit too high. actually it provides nearly the similar functions like XP's Start-Menu, the only disadvantage is the height.
It can certainly be improved but i think it can save us a lot mouse clicks, movements or key-strokes as most used apps get to the "surface". How about two different colours which alternate for consecutive application groups (as used in some tables). Such a menu could be also good for developing kde as a whole. I feel that it is useful to have a large variety of applications for each task so each one complements each other while we're on a developing stage, but that it's better to integrate the several applications for the same task (join their capabilities together) so their number reduces and the user's mind doesn't get all confused. Organized this way the most used apps would come up and it would be easier to know where should the others apps' features be integrated.
the screen space will not be enough for many menus. I would say 2 pane kemnu like windows xp, which can do this thing nicely,
but dont like how it is presented. It still looks at first glance like a massively overgrown and cluttered menu, takes some studying to get the idea. Ideally a menu should be showing no more than about 8 items in a list, beyond that strains most minds (ha-ha but its true). Thats what makes the whole idea of a menu so difficult -- there is so much KDE goodness. You mentioned also the idea of building a logical ¨representation¨ of menu items. In other words a Model-Controller-View pattern... this is already the case I believe. :)
yes i know, it looks not as good as it could be. because of that, it would be good, if such a menu-style is aided by the k-menu in that way, that by applying optical tricks, it looks more clear and not so overgrown. btw, it maybe seems obergrown, but for me this is okay since i know the structure of my menu and i know the place of the application i'm going to start. for sure, there are many people, who wont use it, but i feel comfortable with this menu and i think, some other people would think this way. to the logical representation: i know, there is this logical representation. my idea is, kde should use this representation to dynamically generate a menu in my style (iff that is set up in the control center this way). so i dont need to structure it manually like i did, which has some disadvantages, e.g. in the "open with"-dialog.
I get it. All recently used items appear ABOVE their category menu. Rather than a big stack at the top. Multimedia items recently used appear above Multimedia. It would make it easier to find knowing it belonged to a specific menu group. Good idea, The Borg Queen